FROM RESILIENCE TO TECH LEADERSHIP

India must move from cost arbitrage to innovation leadership, using technology with purpose to drive inclusive, sustainable national progress

- By CP Gurnani

NATIONS, LIKE PEOPLE, ARE defined by the dreams they dare to chase. In 1947, India realised the dream of freedom. By 2047, India must realise the dream of leadership, not just in economics or technology, but in values, empathy, and innovation with purpose.

I have witnessed India move from transistor radios to AI-driven innovations, from handwritten letters to instant video calls across continents. I have seen factories come alive with ambition and startups rise from kitchen tables. Since independence, each generation has worked tirelessly for economic progress, technological advancement, and social equity.

Today, we are building world-class industries, sending missions to the Moon, and competing on the global stage. As PMModi recently said, “India is no longer missing the bus; it’s in the driver's seat now.” Today, India is the world’s fastest-growing large economy. Yet, our ambition must not be limited to being the biggest or the fastest. The true measure of success lies in the impact we create on industries, on societies, and on the planet. That means moving from ‘cost arbitrage’ to ‘innovation leadership’.

Technology With Purpose